Short name AGF Ground Capacity 20,032 Arena/Stadium Ceres Park Founded 1880 | Chairman Lars Fournais Location Aarhus, Denmark | |
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Full name Aarhus Gymnastikforening Nickname(s) GF, De Hvide, De Hviie(The Whites), Byens Hold (The City's Team) CEO Jacob Nielsen (1 Jul 2014–) Profiles | ||
Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF or AGF Aarhus) is one of the oldest sport clubs in Denmark. The club was founded in 1880, mainly with gymnastics but also fencing as the main sports. AGF, however, is best known for its football team, which was introduced in 1902.
Contents
- History
- Supporters
- National honours
- International honours
- Current squad
- Players with dual nationality
- Retired numbers
- Records
- AGF in Europe
- References
AGF has won the Danish Football Championship five times and the Danish Cup a record nine times. In 1961, it reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup, where the club lost to Benfica (1–4 home and 1–3 away). In 1989, AGF again reached a European quarter-final, this time losing to Barcelona in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (0–1 home, 0–0 away). After the turning of the millennium, AGF experienced some poor results which has led to relegation from the Danish Superliga in 2005–06, 2009–10 and in 2013–14, though each time securing a quick return to the top-flight.
History
AGF played its first football match against Aarhus Idrætsklub Olympia in November 1902, a 5–2 loss. Six years later, the club won the Jutland Football Championship by winning 3–2 over Ringkøbing in the final. AGF won the Jutland Football Championship seven times and was in three finals of the Danish Football Championship before AGF became a member of the newly founded Denmark Tournament in 1927.
In 1911, AGF got its own clubhouse then the club brought the pitches at Dalgas Avenue. In 1920, AGF began to play its home matches at the newly build Aarhus Stadion, where the club has played ever since. In 1941, the club moved from the clubhouse at Dalgas Avenue to Fredensvang in the suburb Viby.
AGF ended from 1949 to 1951 three times in a row as third in the 1. division. After spending the 1952–53 season in the 2. division, AGF returned strongly to the 1. division and in the next 12 seasons won four Danish Football Championships and five Danish Cups. AGF also participated in the first edition of the European Cup, where it lost to French club Stade de Reims. In 1961, AGF reached the quarter-final in the same tournament where it lost to eventual tournament winners Benfica. AGF was relegated to the 2. division in 1968 and in 1973 but returned to the 1. division in 1976. This was the start of 30 years in the best division.
The introduction of professional football in Denmark had a big influence on the succes AGF experienced from the late 1970s and forward until 1998. With the former Real Madrid star Henning Jensen on the team was AGF close at winning the Danish Football Championship in 1982. AGF played 2–2 against B 93 in the last game of the season sending the championship to Odense Boldklub. In 1984 AGF was again close at winning the championship but lost it by a singe point to the rivals from Vejle Boldklub. Finally in 1986 AGF won its fifth Danish Football Championship. Flemming Povlsen, Jan Bartram and John Stampe was the profiles in the team. In 1987, 1988 and 1992 AGF also won the Danish Cup.
In 1996, with players like Stig Tøfting and Håvard Flo, was AGF again close at winning the Danish Football Championship but AGF was overtaken by Brøndby IF in the second last round of the tournament. AGF got revenge by winning the final of the Danish Cup against Brøndby IF in the same season.
In 1998, AGF finished third in the Danish Superliga but financial problems resulted in some poor results the following years. In 2000, Peter Rudbæk was fired after seven years as manager. From 2000 onwards, the club experienced some of its worst ever results, which led to relegations in the 2005–06, 2009–10 and 2013–14 season. Each time, however, the club secured a quick return to the top-flight.
In the summer of 2014, AGF appointed Jacob Nielsen as its new director. Nielsen had been successful as director of Randers where he had managed to secure fine economic results. AGF also hired a new sporting director and Morten Wieghorst as manager. On 6 December 2015, however, Nielsen announced that Wieghorst was fired and that former Danish champion Glen Riddersholm was hired as his replacement.
Supporters
AGF's official fan club is AGF Fanclub Aarhus, founded on 9 November 1992. AGF also has several unofficial fan clubs, such as Vesterbro Hardcore AGF, The Madhouse (Danish: Galehuset), The front (Danish: Forenden), CERES’ AGF fanklub, Nysir-Aarhus, AGF Fanclub Odder and Aarhus Youth (Danish: Aarhusiansk Ungdom).
National honours
Sources:,
International honours
Current squad
As of 2 February 2016Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Players with dual nationality
Retired numbers
12 – AGF Fanclub Aarhus
Records
Since 1927, AGF has played 68 seasons at the highest level in Danish football, which is a record. AGF has also played 1.632 matches in the best danish football league which also is a record.